The Ambush That Triggered the Second Seminole War in 1835 Sits Hidden in Rural Florida

Dade Battlefield Historic State Park

Before Disney World, before Miami Beach, Florida was a war zone.

The Second Seminole War started here when Osceola’s warriors wiped out an entire military unit in 1835. What began as a routine march became a massacre that would define decades of conflict.

This quiet battlefield preserves the story of that fateful day.

The Treaty That Started a War

In 1830, President Andrew Jackson created the Indian Removal Act to move all southeastern tribes west of the Mississippi River.

A few Seminole representatives signed the Treaty of Payne’s Landing in 1832. This required all Seminoles to leave Florida within three years and join the Creek tribe in Oklahoma.

Many Seminole leaders called the treaty a fraud. They said they never signed it or were forced to sign.

As the 1835 deadline approached, the military prepared to remove Seminoles who refused to leave.

A Creek Man Rises to Power

Billy Powell was born in Alabama in 1804 to a Creek mother and Scottish father. After the Creek War, his family fled to Florida and joined the Seminoles.

Powell took the name Osceola as a young man. Though not born a chief, his strong personality made him influential among the Seminoles.

Osceola fought against relocation, especially after Indian Agent Wiley Thompson briefly jailed him at Fort King. After his release, Osceola pretended to accept relocation while secretly planning resistance.

Planning the Attack

Seminole leaders spent over a year creating their battle plan. They focused on cutting supply lines and stopping troop movements.

In November 1835, Osceola killed Chief Charley Emathla for selling his cattle to prepare for relocation. This killing warned other Seminoles not to cooperate with Americans.

Chief Micanopy joined war leaders Jumper, Alligator, and Osceola in organizing resistance. Their first major attack came on December 18, 1835, when Osceola led 80 warriors against a Florida militia supply train.

Soldiers March into a Trap

Major Francis Dade led 107 soldiers from Fort Brooke (Tampa) toward Fort King (Ocala) on December 23, 1835. His mission was to strengthen the small fort thought to be in danger.

His men came from three different army units. They wore heavy winter coats and brought one small cannon.

Seminole scouts watched them daily. After crossing several rivers safely, Dade grew careless and pulled back his scouts, leaving his column exposed.

Perfect Ground for an Ambush

The land near today’s Bushnell made an ideal ambush spot. The military road passed through what looked like open pine woods but actually hid crouched warriors perfectly.

The cold morning of December 28, 1835, caused soldiers to wear heavy coats that made it hard to reach their weapons quickly.

After five days of marching, the troops were about 50 miles from Fort King, walking through a wooded area, unaware of the danger surrounding them.

The First Shot

Chief Micanopy aimed at Major Dade on horseback and killed him with a single shot.

This signal unleashed 180 Seminole warriors who fired from just 50 yards away. Almost half the soldiers fell immediately.

Captain Gardiner took command as soldiers struggled to pull guns from beneath their coats.

The well-planned first attack was devastating, killing leaders and leaving survivors outnumbered.

Osceola’s Other Mission

While Dade’s men were being attacked, Osceola led a separate assault 25 miles north at Fort King. He targeted Indian Agent Wiley Thompson, who had once imprisoned him.

Seminole leaders originally planned to wait for Osceola before attacking Dade. After watching the soldiers for days, they decided the moment was too perfect to wait.

Osceola killed Thompson the same day as the Dade battle. These coordinated attacks prevented help from arriving and shocked American forces throughout Florida.

The Final Stand

Surviving soldiers gathered under Captain Gardiner and quickly built a triangle-shaped wall from pine logs.

They collected ammunition from dead comrades and brought wounded men inside their makeshift fort. Seminoles kept shooting from the surrounding woods.

For about six hours, the battle continued with several Seminole attacks. American soldiers fought desperately as their numbers dwindled.

The much larger Seminole force eventually overran their position.

The Few Survivors

Out of more than 100 soldiers, only three survived: Privates Ransom Clark, Joseph Sprague, and John Thomas. All were badly wounded.

During the final attack, these men escaped into the wilderness. Clark and Thomas, despite serious injuries, made it back to Fort Brooke.

Their stories provided the only American account of what became known as the “Dade Massacre.” Sprague reached Fort Brooke but died soon after.

A fourth soldier escaped but was killed before reaching safety.

News Shocks the Nation

The destruction of Dade’s command marked the beginning of the Second Seminole War. News reached Washington in February 1836, shocking Americans.

General Edmund Gaines arrived with 1,100 men on February 20 to bury the dead where they fell.

Major Ethan Allen Hitchcock, who helped recover the bodies, wrote that the government was “wrong” and the Seminoles had “nobly defended their country.”

The war lasted until 1842, costing over $20 million and more than 1,500 American lives.

Florida Changes Forever

After the war, Dade’s men were reburied at St. Augustine National Cemetery under three stone pyramids that still stand today.

The Second Seminole War changed Florida’s population drastically. Most Seminoles were forced to move to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.

About 200-300 Seminoles escaped capture by hiding deep in the Everglades. Their descendants form today’s Seminole Tribe of Florida, the only Native American tribe that never officially surrendered to the United States.

Visiting Dade Battlefield Historic State Park

Dade Battlefield Historic State Park is located at 7200 Battlefield Parkway, Bushnell, Florida, 33513. It’s easily accessible from Interstate 75, exit 314.

The park is open daily from 8:00 a.m. until sunset. Entrance fees are $3 per vehicle for up to 8 people, with additional passengers paying $2 each.

The visitor center houses exhibits, artifacts, and shows the 12-minute film “This Land, These Men.” Picnic areas, a playground, and a half-mile nature trail are available for visitors.

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